Tokusan holds his bowl (idea)

Tokusan Holds His Bowl

Tokusan went to the dining room from the meditation hall holding his
bowl. Seppo was on duty cooking. When he met Tokusan he said: `The
dinner drum is not yet beaten. Where are you going with your bowl?'

Tokusan heard of this remark and asked Ganto to come to him. `I have
heard,' he said, `you are not approving my Zen.' Ganto admitted this
indirectly. Tokusan said nothing.

The next day Tokusan delivered an entirely different kind of lecture
to the monks. Ganto laughed and clapped his hands, saying: `I see our
old man understands the ultimate truth indeed. None in China can
surpass him.'

Mumon's Comment: Speaking about ultimate truth, both Ganto and
Tokusan did not even dream it. After all, they are dummies.

Whoever understands the first truth
Should understand the ultimate truth.
The last and first,
Are they not the same?